Artificial candle construction



March 1965 A. AR'BETMAN ARTIFICIAL CANDLE co NSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 21, 1963 VEN'F OR HUR ARBETMAN ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,174,311 ARTIFICIAL CANDLE CONTRUCTION Arthur Arhetman, 1204 S. Long Ave., Hillside, NJ. Filed Feb. 21, 1963, Ser. No. 269,105 2 Claims. (Cl. 67-55) This invention relates to artificial candles and, more particularly, to an improved artificial candle construction including an improved easily accessible fuel reservoir capable of effective sealing, an improved wick arrangement, and novel means for adapting the base of the artificial candle to candle holders of different dimensions and configurations.

Artificial candles generally comprise a relatively elongated outer casing simulating the appearance of a natural wax candle, this casing being hollow to contain a reservoir for liquid fuel. A wick is arranged to project through the tip of the outer casing, which simulates the tip of a natural candle, this wick being disposed within the reservoir. Suitable means are provided whereby the artificial candle may be inserted into a candle holder in the same manner as a natural candle would be inserted thereinto.

Known artificial candles have met with only mediocre commercial success due to their complicated construction, increasing the cost and thus the sale price. In addition, such candles have been diflicult to re-fuel, and a particular difliculty has been presented where the wick is accidentally withdrawn from the wick holder and must be re-threaded therethrough.

The present invention is directed to an artificial candle construction which involves simple and inexpensive manufacturing and assembling arrangements, inexpensive material, the provision of a readily accessible fuel reservoir for facilitating re-fueling of the candle, and a provision of a novel wick which may be readily re-threaded, even by an unskilled person, through a wick holder when the wick has been accidentally withdrawn from the wick holder.

To this end, the artificial candle construction of the present invention includes an inner support member of plastic composition material which includes a relatively elongated substantially thin walled tube open at its upper end. The lower end of this tube is thickened to form a shouldered boss, and an external peripheral flange is formed intermediate the axial length of the boss. The upper portion of this boss telescopingly receives the lower end of a tubular outer casing of plastic composition material and which simulates a natural wax candle. This outer casing has a tapered upper end converging to form a small diameter opening.

Beneath the aforementioned flange, the inner member is formed with a thickened cylindrical base which has a plurality of longitudinally open slots at preferably equiangularly spaced relation therearound, and these slots disengageably receive a winged adapter element of relatively flexible plastic composition material whose wings extend through the slots. These wings, due to their flexibility, adapt the base of the candle to be set into any size or configuration of candle holders.

The fuel reservoir is a relatively elongated cylindrical element of metal or the like having a lower end pro vided with a reduced and closed tubular extension which has a telescoping fit in the upper end of the inner plastic member, this reduced extension providing a shoulder seating on the upper end of the inner support member. The open upper end of the reservoir is internally threaded for cooperation with a nozzle member which is likewise formed of metal and has an inner tubular portion which is externally threaded for cooperation with the threads on the upper end of the reservoir. Outwardly of the threaded portion, the nozzle member is formed with an external flange, and a sealing washer is disposed between this flange and the upper end of the reservoir to form a tight seal preventing leakage of fuel from the reservoir. Above the flange, the nozzle member is constructed generally in the form of a nozzle including a relatively small diameter cylindrical tip portion arranged to project outwardly through the opening in the outer casing when the latter is assembled with the inner tubular member.

A wick is arranged to extend through the nozzle tip and to have its major portion disposed in the fuel in the reservoir. A novel feature of this wick is that the inner end thereof, for a substantial distance, has a relatively soft metal wire inserted therethrough. Should the wick be accidentally withdrawn from the nozzle tip, it may be easily re-threaded therethrough by virtue of the relative stiffness of the portion thereof having the soft metal wire extending therethrough.

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is made to the following description of typical embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an artificial candle embodying the invention, a candle holder being shown in phantom;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the artificial candle shown in elevation in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views taken on the correspondingly numbered lines of FIG. 2;

P16. 5 is a partial elevational view of the novel wick;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 5 and showing the wick threading construction;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of another form of candle embodying the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention illus trated more particularly in FIGS. 1 through 6, the artificial candle 10 shown therein is illustrated as having its base placed in a candle holder which is illustrated in phantom at 11, a flame 12 being indicated as burning at the tip end of the candle 10.

The candle 10 includes a candle simulating outer casing 15 which is a generally elongated and tubular element molded of a suitable plastic composition. A preferred material is that known as Lustran-A, which is a styrene-acrylonitrile plastic manufactured by Monsanto Chemical Company. This particular plastic material has the characteristic that, even in complete submersion in lighter fluid, it will withstand attack by almost every type of lighter fluid without crazing. The outer casing 15 tapers from a relatively large diameter open lower end to a relatively small diameter upper end, and the upper end is more sharply converged inwardly as at 16 and defines a relatively small diameter tip opening 17. In a manner to be described, casing 15 is removable to expose the internal parts of the candle, for example for refilling the fluid reservoir.

The inner components of the candle include a main support 20 which is formed of the same plastic composition material as is the outer casing 15. Inner support 20 is a relatively elongated and generally tubular member which has a length substantially less than that of the outer casing 15. Support 20 has a relatively thin walled tubular upper portion 21 which has an outer diameter substantially smaller than the inner diameter of the adjacent portion of .the outer casing 15. The lower end of tubular portion 21 is substantially thickened to provide Fatented Mar. 23, 1955 greater than the thickness of tubular portion 21.

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a boss generally indicated at 22 whose outer surface conformingly and telescopingly fits the lower end of the outer casing 15. The extreme end of casing seats on a peripheral flange 23 on boss 22, and a partition 23 extends across the support in the same diametric plane as the flange 23. As best seen in FIG. 4, boss 22 is formed with longitudinally extending and equicircumferentially spaced ribs 26, preferably four in number, which provide for an easy telescoping fit of casing 15 over the boss.

Extending downwardly from the flange 23 and the partion 24 is a generally cylindrical base 25, molded integrally with the remainder of support member 20, and having an external diameter substantially equal to the external diameter of boss 22. However, the wall of base 25 is somewhat thinner than the thicknes of boss 22, but Base 25 is formed with a series, preferably three, of open ended slots 27 which are spaced substantially uniformly around its circumference.

Base 25 is arranged to disengageably receive a retainer or adapter-member 30 which adapts the candle 15 to fit candle holders of various dimensions and configurations. Frictional adapter 30 is molded of a suitable flexible plastic composition material, preferably polyethylene, which is sufiiciently flexible so that the candle may be made to fit almost any diameter holder. Adapter 30 is further integrally formed with wings 32 which extend radially outwardly from the body and then are bent angularly to extend substantially parallel to a tangent to body 31,, as indicated at 33. The radial portions of wings 32 have a thickness substantially less than the arcuate extent of the slots 27. When adapter 30 is fitted into base 25 with a frictional fit, wings 32 project substantially therebeyond and, due to their flexibility, adapt base 25 for a frictional fit within candle holders of various diameters and even of various configurations.

Inner support member 20 serves as a support for an elongated and substantially cylindrical fuel reservoir 35. Reservoir 35 is formed of metal and is generally cylindrical with an outer diameter substantially equal to that of the tubular portion 21 of support 20. The lower or inner end of reservoir 35 is in the form of a reduced cylindrical boss 36 having a closed end wall 37 and an outer diameter substantially equalto the inner diameter of the tubular portion 21 of support 20. Thereby, boss 36 will have a close frictional fit in the upper end of tubular portion 21, and the shoulder 38 formed by the boss will engage the upper end of tubular portion 21. The upper end of reservoir 35 is open and is internally threaded for a short distance inwardly of the end of the reservoir.

A metal nozzle 40 is arranged to be threaded into the upper end of reservoir 35. Nozzle member 40 is formed with a lower tubular extension 41 which is externally threaded to engage the internal threads in the open end of reservoir 35. At the upper end of the tubular extension 41,; nozzle member 40 is formed with a flange 42 having a diameter substantially equal to the external diameter of reservoir 35. Above flange 42, nozzle member 40 is a reduced diameter element including a generally axially extending portion 43, a frusto-conical portion 44, and a relatively elongated cylindrical tip 45 arranged to extend through opening 17 in the upper end of outer casing 15, the tip 45 having a diameter just a little less than the diameter of opening 17. A washer 46 is dis-' posed between flange 42 and the upper end of reservoir 35 so that the washer is compressed when nozzle member 40 is threaded into the reservoir to form a leak-tight seal for the reservoir.

A feature of the invention is the Wick 50. Wick 50 is a relativelyelongated piece of absorbent and capillary material such as customarily used in wicks for lighters and the like. However, in the case of the invention and as best shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, the inner or lower end of wick 50 has a relatively soft small diameter metal wire CTR 4 51 extending substantially centrally therethrough. Thereby, should wick 50 be inadvertently withdrawn from nozzle tip 45, through which it extends with a close fit, the Wick may be readily re-threaded through tip 45 by inserting the wired end of the wick through tip 45, such insertion being facilitated by the stiffness imparted due to the wire 51. After such insertion, the lower end of the wick may be bent up as indicated in FIG. 2, to lie in the reservoir 35 and to absorb lighter fluid from the reservoir.

The arrangement operates in the following manner. After withdrawal of outer casing 15, reservoir 35 and nozzle member 40 may be removed from support 20. Nozzle member 49 may then be unscrewed from the upper end of reservoir 35, and the reservoir may be filled to a desired level with lighter fluid. Wick 50 is then reinserted into the reservoir and nozzle member 40 is screwed into the upper end of the reservoir with the interposition of washer 46. This forms a liquid-tight seal for the reservoir. The reservoir and nozzle member assembly may then be re-seated in tubular support 20, after which outer casing 15 is placed over the inner parts with tip 45 extending through opening 17 and the lower end of the casing fitting over boss 22. It will thus be noted that the candle may be readily and easily refueled whenever necessary.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a modified form of the invention which differs from that shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 primarily in that the outer surface of outer casing 15' of candle 55 is formed with one or more helical ribs 56 to simulate .a difl'erent type of candle. Also, the boss 22 of the inner support member has ribs 26 which have rounded outer surfaces. Otherwise, the candle construction 55 of FIGS. 7 and 8 is identical in construction with that of FIGS. 1 through 4 and is operated, mounted, and re-fueled in the same manner as previously described.

Furthermore, the tip 16' of the candle. 55 has a slightly different shape than does tip 16 of outer casing 15 of candle 10. As illustrated particularly in FIG. 7, a cap 60 may be provided to fit over tip 45 of nozzle assembly and over the tip portion 16' of the outer casing 15'. The same arrangement may be used in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4. This cap 66' prevents loss of lighter fluid by evaporation, and the capmay be of the same general construction as customarily used for containers of lighter fluid,

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. In an artificial candle of the type including a relatively elongated tubular outer casing of plastic composition material having an open lower end and an upper tip end converging to a relatively small diameter tip opening; an inner support element of plastic composition material including a relatively elongated upper tubular portion of an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of said outer casing and of a length substantially less than that of said outer casing, an enlarged boss at the lower end of said support element, a peripheral flange projecting outwardly from said boss, the outer surface of said boss having a telescoping frictional fit in the open lower end of said outer casing with the latter seated on said flange; a relatively elongated cylindrical reservoir having a closed inner end and an extension at said inner end formed to fit frictionally within the upper end of said tubular portion and provided with a shoulder seating on the upper end of said tubular portion, for extension of said reservoir upwardly from said tubular portion; a nozzle member removably seated in and sealing the open upper end of said reservoir and including a reduced diameter tip projecting through the upper end of aid casing; and a wick extending through said tip and disposed in said reservoir: the improvement comprising a tubular base extending downwardly from said boss and adapted for engagement in a candle holder; said base being formed with longitudinally extending slots therein opening through its lower end, the slots being in substantially uniformly spaced circumferential relation; an adapter member of flexible plastic com- 5 position material including a cylindrical portion having a frictional fit within said base and flexible wings integral with said cylindrical portion and extending outwardly through said slots, whereby said adapter provides for mounting of said candle in candle holders of various diameters and configurations.

2. An artificial candle, as claimed in claim 1, in which said adapter is formed of polyethylene.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Rust 67-53 Young 67-55 Warren 67-53 Bentote 67-55 Rosenberg 67-55 Schreyer 67-53 Hamilton 67-55 Kwasniewski 67-55 Rodman 67-55 EDWARD J. MICHAEL, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN AN ARTIFICAL CANDLE OF THE TYPE INCLUDING A RELATIVELY ELONGATED TUBULAR OUTER CASING OF PLASTIC COMPOSITION MATERIAL HAVING AN OPEN LOWER END AND AN UPPER TIP END CONVERGING TO A RELATIVELY SMALL DIAMETER TIP OPENING; AN INNER SUPPORT ELEMENT OF PLASTIC COMPOSITION MATERIAL INCLUDING A RELATIVELY ELONGATED UPPER TUBULAR PORTION OF AN OUTER DIAMETER LESS THAN THE INNER DIAMETER OF SAID OUTER CASING AND OF A LENGTH SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THAT OF SAID OUTER CASING, AN ENLARGED BOSS AT THE LOWER END OF SAID SUPPORT ELEMENT, A PERIPHERAL FLANGE PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID BOSS, THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID BOSS HAVING A TELESCOPING FRICTIONAL FIT IN THE OPEN LOWER END OF SAID OUTER CASING WITH THE LATTER SEATED ON SAID FLANGE; A RELATIVELY ELONGATED CYLINDRICAL RESERVOIR HAVING A CLOSED INNER END AND AN EXTENSION AT SAID INNER END FORMED TO FIT FRICTIONALLY WITHIN THE UPPER END OF SAID TUBULAR PORTION AND PROVIDED WITH A SHOULDER SEATING ON THE UPPER END OF SAID TUBULAR PORTION, FOR EXTENDING OF SAID RESERVOIR UPWARDLY FROM SAID TUBULAR PORTION; A NOZZLE MEMBER REMOVABLY SEATED IN AND SEALING THE OPEN UPPER END OF SAID RESERVOIR AND INCLUDING A REDUCED DIAMETER TIP PROJECTING THROUGH THE UPPER END OF SAID CASING; AN A WICK EXTENDING THROUGH SAID TIP AND DISPOSED IN SAID RESERVOIR; THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING A TUBULAR BASE EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID BOSS AND ADAPTED FOR ENGAGEMENT IN A CANDLE HOLDER; SAID BASE BEING FORMED WITH LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SLOTS THEREIN OPENING THROGH ITS LOWER END, THE SLOTS BEING IN SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORMLY SPACED CIRCUMFERENTIAL RELATION; AN ADAPTER MEMBER OF FLEXIBLE WINGS INTEGRAL POSITION MATERIAL INCLUDING A CYLINDRICAL PORTION HAVING A FRICTIONAL FIT WITHIN SAID BASE AND FLEXIBLE WINGS INTEGRAL WITH SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THROUGH SAID SLOTS, WHEREBY SAID ADAPTER PROVIDES FOR MOUNTING OF SAID CANDLE IN CANDLE HOLDERS OF VARIOUS DIAMETERS AND CONFIGURATIONS. 